OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Shepherdstown: median income $111,593, home value $414,500, $212/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salem, CT 06420 94%324$123,425$405,800$245 smaller
Elburn, IL 60119 92%583$130,722$402,300$215 larger
Voorheesville, NY 12186 91%300$112,446$360,000$232 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Tyrone, GA 30290 91%558$121,380$463,000$213 pricier homes ($49K more)
Delano, MN 55328 91%903$114,158$409,800$197 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, VT 05454 90%439$128,212$372,400$286 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Tolland, CT 06084 90%331$133,611$365,200$241 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
East Granby, CT 06026 89%317$119,375$388,000$233 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hebron, CT 06248 89%324$134,435$376,200$239 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Woodstock, CT 06281 89%351$125,778$428,800$261 older residents
Mc Donald, PA 15057 89%145$120,821$355,400$192 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Venetia, PA 15367 89%133$135,542$544,100$216 pricier homes ($130K more)
Valencia, PA 16059 89%142$110,828$408,500$243 older residents
Bogart, GA 30622 89%493$133,563$397,700$221 larger · newer homes
Belchertown, MA 01007 88%344$108,125$371,400$258 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Port Matilda, PA 16870 88%96$121,528$411,100$235 8 min shorter commute
Schnecksville, PA 18078 88%145$120,857$385,400$205 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lewisville, NC 27023 88%271$107,924$369,100$199 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Signal Mountain, TN 37377 88%508$119,636$529,500$254 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger
Lake Orion, MI 48362 88%366$115,230$346,900$223 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Granby, CT 06035 87%315$107,957$350,500$221 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Colchester, CT 06415 87%323$123,256$366,300$265 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Altamont, NY 12009 87%300$120,101$342,900$247 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
West Grove, PA 19390 87%109$128,858$417,900$222 larger
Lutz, FL 33548 87%825$129,857$582,200$291 pricier homes ($168K more)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.